Change for the Audacious: a doer's guide to Large Systems Change for flourishing futures - Softcover

Waddell, Steve John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0692651659 ISBN 13: 9780692651650

Publisher: Networkingaction, 2016

Synopsis

We must and can do much better at addressing issues such as climate change, food security, health, education, environmental degradation, peace-building, water, equity, corruption, and wealth creation.  This book is for people working on these types of issues, with the belief that we can create a future that is not just “sustainable”, but also flourishing.  This perspective means that the challenge is not just one of simple change, but of transformation – radical change in the way we perceive our world, create relationships and organize our societies.  This is the implication of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and other global efforts, and also innumerable efforts locally, nationally and regionally. 

This book approaches these challenges as large systems change issues:  issues requiring engagement of many, many people and organizations often globally;  issues requiring deep innovation with shifts in mindsets and power structures; and issues that require capacity to work with complexity.  Large systems change is presented as a new field of practice and knowledge; the book is not about a "method" or particular "approach";  rather it provides an overview of frameworks, methods and approaches to develop capacity to use the appropriate ones in particular contexts.

After introducing concepts of transformation and complexity, the book presents five case studies of large systems change.  These cases and others are referenced throughout the remainder of the book to present large systems change strategy, organizing structures, steps in developing the necessary collective action, tools, and guidance for change practitioners.  

About this title

About the Author

Steve Waddell's work over 30 years on large systems change has made him a thought leader and change agent at the local, national, regional and global levels. His work has covered a wide range of change challenges including many aspects of sustainability, youth development, poverty, health care, education, slavery, and finance. As an educator, community organizer globally, keynote speaker, consultant and project partner he has worked with the UN Global Compact, Gates Foundation, World Bank, Global Reporting Initiative, Ford Foundation, Humanity United, Civicus, International Youth Foundation, USAID, International Development and Research Centre, Impact Hubs, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Forest Stewardship Council and many others. In the 1980s in his hometown of Vancouver, Canada, Steve worked on systems change locally. From Boston over 25 years he has worked nationally and globally. Because he sees that change requires weaving together relationships in new ways, Steve focuses upon intersectoral (business-government-civil society), inter-organizational collaboration and networks to produce innovation, enhance impact, and build new capacity. Three key concepts are associated with his work: "societal learning and change," which is a deep change strategy to address chronic and complex issues; "global action networks", which are an emerging form of global governance that addresses issues requiring transformation; and "large systems change" which deals with profound shifts in individual orientations, organizational structures and societal institutions. Steve has a PhD in Sociology and an MBA, and lives in Boston.

Edition details

• Publisher: Networkingaction
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0692651659
• ISBN 13: 9780692651650
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240